Hot Property Beautifully renovated home offers luxury with local lore

Gretchen A. PeckFebruary 13, 2019 GMT

Listed for $2.325 million by Sharon Kinney and Margi Vorder Bruegge of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 369 North St. in mid-country Greenwich offers a blend of local history, impeccable renovations and close convenience to schools and so much more.

The current owner grew up in Greenwich and attended the town’s exceptional local public schools. She returned to Greenwich in 1997 as an adult and new mother.

“As first-time home buyers from New York City, with a baby on the way, we were looking for a house that would accommodate a growing family,” she recalled. “I loved the convenient mid-country location, large private yard, high ceilings — especially in the master bedroom — [having] the kitchen at the heart of the home, with great flow to the other spaces. It was nice to return to Greenwich.”

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During their more than 20 years here since, the owners “updated the entire home.” That included finishing the interiors of an in-process two-story addition.

“We added the new front hall, created the step-down living room, added two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor, and added a dormered office and second-floor laundry,” she explained via email. “We also reconfigured the master bed and bath to have two large walk-in closets with built-ins, and completely remodeled the bathroom.

“We also did a full renovation of the kitchen, replaced the antique windows, rebuilt the den, added all-new white oak floors to the second floor, refinished all existing flooring, and tiled the basement floor,” she added. “Most recently, we added new quartz countertops, sinks and faucets to the master bath, new backsplash, dishwasher, and faucets to the kitchen. [We] replaced the back deck with Azec decking and new railings, repaved the driveway, and added additional Belgian block. [We] replaced the wood fence on the property line, updated interior and exterior light fixtures, and freshly painted the house inside and out. We wanted to make sure the house was completely ready for its new owners.”

When it came time to renovate the kitchen, the seller said they sought to create “a timeless look, with modern appliances.” They chose a Viking six-burner cooktop and double wall ovens from Bosch. They added a 36-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Shaws Fireclay farmhouse-style sink by Rohl, black granite counters, and brushed stainless-steel faucets and hardware.

“The kitchen is spacious enough for a big kitchen table that can easily accommodate eight people,” the owner pointed out.

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Though the list of improvements is long, the home’s “turn-of-the-century” character still comes through. The seller discovered that the property was acquired in 1899 by William H. Bridge, a family name known throughout Greenwich and beyond. By 1902, the colonial farmhouse made its debut on the property, and up until 1990, it remained in the Bridge family.

“We have the original blueprints for the house that we will pass along to the next owners,” the seller vowed. “During one of our renovation projects, we found a journal/diary/notebook belonging to William Bridge, hidden behind the plaster wall. The journal detailed everyday life in the early 1900s, with dated entries about the weather, crops and visits with neighbors. We gave the find to the Bridge family at Sam Bridge Nursery.”

Over the years, the homeowners and their children enjoyed everyday life here, too, as well as some special occasions.

“The flow of the house makes it great for hosting a big group — anything from dinner parties for 18, using the dining room and kitchen table, to cookouts for 80 [in] the huge backyard,” she recalled.

Among the five bedrooms is the master suite, which the seller described as “a relaxing sanctuary.”

“The view of the backyard is so peaceful and private,” she explained. “In the summer, you hardly catch a glimpse of any neighbors’ homes. The sunset views to the west, out the French doors, are spectacular. In the fall, the maple tree glows red.”

One of the perks of this mid-country location was its proximity to local public and private schools.

“Mid-country Greenwich attracts families from all over the world,” the seller noted. “The proximity to New York City, downtown Greenwich, and many fabulous local schools is ideal, while the minimum lot size of 1 acre can give a sense of rural tranquility.”